A lower middle-order batsman and right-arm seamer, Jim Standen had already made a mark in football in goal for Arsenal when he joined Worcestershire in 1959 (he had played in the Minor Counties Championship for Hertfordshire). He played regularly once his footballing commitments scaled down with a move to Luton Town, and in 1962 took 78 wickets for the county, his best return. In 1962 his football career was kick-started with a move to West Ham and again his availability for cricket suffered.

In Worcestershire's inaugural Gillette Cup match in 1963 he took 5 for 14 and held two excellent catches to win the Man-of-the-Match award. Although the county reached the final, Standen opted to miss the game and play for West Ham at Sheffield United instead (both his sides lost).

At the end of that season he was in goal when West Ham won the FA Cup, and he was also part of Worcestershire's Championship-winning side that summer, a unique double that will almost certainly never be repeated. His contribution to the county's first title was considerable, with his 64 wickets costing 13.00.

In 1965 he won the European Cup Winners' Cup with West Ham but made only one appearance for Worcestershire as they won another Championship. Increasingly football dominated, and he also spent time playing football in Detriot. He resumed his county career on his return and played regularly in 1969 and 1970 before retiring to run two sports shops. He emigrated to the USA in 1980 where his wife was vice-president of a major bank.
Martin Williamson

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